Interview with Author – Sally Huss

About Sally Huss:
“Bright and happy,” “light and whimsical” have been the catch phrases attached to the writing and art of Sally Huss for over 30 years. Sweet images dance across all of Sally’s creations, whether in the form of children’s books, paintings, wallpaper, ceramics, baby bibs, purses, clothing, or her King Features Syndicated newspaper panel “Happy Musings.”

Sally is a graduate of USC with a degree in Fine Art and through the years, has had 26 of her own licensed art galleries throughout the world.

What inspires you to write?
My heart inspires me to write and illustrate. I love doing it; it tickles me. I am hopeful my books do the same for the children who read them and the mothers and fathers who read these stories to their children.

Tell us about your writing process.
I never outline, nor do I make sketches for the illustrations. I just DO IT! Mine is not a mental, thoughtful process. It is more a feeling process — what feels right to me at the moment. I do not dally over an illustration. I create it quickly, spontaneous, even though it is a bit cumbersome — using a rather crude Bamboo tablet and pen. It is not the same as when I draw characters with a brush or pen and ink. However, time is a factor. I have a stack of books to illustrate and a limited number of years left in my life to do them. So, I work quickly without laboring.

As far as the writing goes, I do the same. I think of a subject and write it, mostly seeing it as a little film. I had long ago worked in the film industry so seeing the story as a film comes easily.

For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
My characters speak for themselves. I just listen and write.

What advice would you give other writers?
Keep going! Don’t stop! Don’t try to make it perfect. Do a book, then do another and another. Each one will get better.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I have published with several regular publishers, however I felt limited as far as the number of books they would do. Now, as a self-published author I can do as many books as I want. Lovely!

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Who knows where it will go. Twenty years ago, who would have thought it possible for a self-published author to become a New York Times best-seller?